← Explore on the interactive map

Battle of Guiling

Type Event Region China Time -354

Fought in 354 BCE, the Battle of Guiling is a classic example of Sun Bin's 'besiege Wei to rescue Zhao' tactic: while Wei attacked Zhao, he struck th…

Timeline

  1. -354Handan · HebeiThe Wei general Pang Juan besieged the Zhao capital Handan, and with Zhao in dire peril it sent envoys to Qi for help. King Wei of Qi appointed Tian Ji as commander and Sun Bin as military advisor to lead forces to Zhao's relief.
  2. -354Guiling · ShandongSun Bin did not march directly on Handan but led his army against the Wei capital Daliang, forcing Pang Juan to turn back to defend it. The Qi army set an ambush at Guiling and crushed the exhausted returning Wei forces, successfully lifting the siege of Zhao; 'besiege Wei to rescue Zhao' became a classic stratagem.

Sources